Eleanor of Aquitaine was born c. 1122 and died April 1, 1204, Fontevrault, Anjou, France, queen consort of both Louis VII of France (1137–52) and Henry II of England (1152–1204) and mother of Richard I (the Lion-Heart) and John of England. She was considered the most powerful woman in 12th-century Europe.
Eleanor was the daughter and heiress of William X, who was the duke of Aquitaine and count of Poitiers, who possessed one of the largest domains in France, and larger than those held by the French king. Upon William’s death in 1137 she inherited the duchy of Aquitaine and in July 1137 married the heir to the French throne, who succeeded his father, Louis VI, the next month. Eleanor became queen of France, a title she held for the next 15 years.
From 1147 to 1149 Eleanor went with Louis on the Second Crusade to protect the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, which was founded after the First Crusade only 50 years before from the Turkish assault. Eleanor’s performance during this expedition with the court of her uncle Raymond of Poitiers at Antioch, aroused Louis’s jealousy and marked the beginning of their disagreement. After their return to France, there was a …show more content…
The revolt failed, and Eleanor was captured while seeking refuge in the kingdom of her first husband, Louis VII. Her semi-imprisonment in England ended only with the death of Henry II in 1189. On her release, Eleanor played a greater political role than ever before. She actively prepared for Richard’s coronation as king, was administrator of the realm during his Crusade to the Holy Land, and, after his capture by the duke of Austria on Richard’s return from the east, collected his ransom and went in person to escort him to England. During Richard’s absence, she succeeded in keeping his kingdom intact and in prevention the interests of his brother John Lackland and Philip II Augustus, king of France, against
Eleanor was the daughter and heiress of William X, who was the duke of Aquitaine and count of Poitiers, who possessed one of the largest domains in France, and larger than those held by the French king. Upon William’s death in 1137 she inherited the duchy of Aquitaine and in July 1137 married the heir to the French throne, who succeeded his father, Louis VI, the next month. Eleanor became queen of France, a title she held for the next 15 years.
From 1147 to 1149 Eleanor went with Louis on the Second Crusade to protect the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, which was founded after the First Crusade only 50 years before from the Turkish assault. Eleanor’s performance during this expedition with the court of her uncle Raymond of Poitiers at Antioch, aroused Louis’s jealousy and marked the beginning of their disagreement. After their return to France, there was a …show more content…
The revolt failed, and Eleanor was captured while seeking refuge in the kingdom of her first husband, Louis VII. Her semi-imprisonment in England ended only with the death of Henry II in 1189. On her release, Eleanor played a greater political role than ever before. She actively prepared for Richard’s coronation as king, was administrator of the realm during his Crusade to the Holy Land, and, after his capture by the duke of Austria on Richard’s return from the east, collected his ransom and went in person to escort him to England. During Richard’s absence, she succeeded in keeping his kingdom intact and in prevention the interests of his brother John Lackland and Philip II Augustus, king of France, against